Casablanca – Moroccan and Spanish security services have dismantled an ISIS-linked cell operating between the two countries, authorities said on Wednesday.
The operation was carried out simultaneously by Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) and Spain’s General Commissariat for Information, part of the national police. Three suspects were identified. Two were arrested in Tangier by Morocco’s special forces, while the alleged leader of the cell was detained in Mallorca.
Early findings suggest the two suspects arrested in Morocco were involved in providing funding and logistical support to fighters linked to ISIS branches in the Sahel region and Somalia. The suspect arrested in Spain is believed to have been planning an attack using lone-actor tactics.
The two individuals detained in Tangier have been placed in police custody as part of an ongoing investigation led by Moroccan authorities under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office in charge of terrorism cases. Investigators are working to uncover possible links and connections to other networks, both in Morocco and abroad.
Officials said the joint operation is part of ongoing coordination between Moroccan and Spanish security services aimed at preventing extremist threats and dismantling militant networks.
The two countries have worked closely on counterterrorism efforts for years. Since 2014, more than 30 terrorist cells have been dismantled through joint operations, helping to prevent major attacks and disrupt planned actions targeting both countries.
Read also: Morocco Ranks Among Safest Countries in Global Terrorism Index 2026
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